All,Tim Lenz, Chris Wiley and I birded around the Montezuma area this evening. Many shorebirds, especially Semipalmated Plovers, Least Sandpipers, and Killdeer, were using the Montezuma NWR visitor center impoundment. In addition, the water level at Mays Point Pool has dropped, exposing some real, live mudflats (!!). Though it is a bit late for the bulk of shorebird migration, things are looking up in terms of the available shorebird habitat around Montezuma. Highlights included:
Eurasian Wigeon - 1 alternate male (bright entirely rufous head without pale forecrown stripe; rufous/ flanks as well) in Knox-Marcellus Marsh seen from the overlook on East Rd. near Mays Point, along with >140 American Wigeon and many other ducks White-rumped Sandpiper - 1 adult at MNWR visitor center Wilson's Phalarope - 1 continuing at Mays Point Pool (MNWR) cleverly evading a marauding Merlin Long-billed Dowitcher - 2 juveniles (dark and drab overall with plain, dark-centered tertials) along with 1 juv. Short-billed (brightly saturated with golden, wormy internal markings on the tertials) at Mays Point Pool (MNWR) Cheers, Tom -- Thomas Brodie Johnson Ithaca, NY [email protected] mobile: 717.991.5727 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
